"An Unforgettable City" a Istanbul Travel Page by mightywease

I first visited Istanbul as a single traveller in 1997 and completely fell in love with the city. I've returned twice with my husband who, I'm glad to say, also feel in love with this amazing place.

It is a wonderful city with a fascinating cultural and historical heritage. A fusion of Asian and European influences that contribute to a vibrant and at times magical atmosphere.

From the magestic splendour of Aya Sofia and the Topkapi Palace through the tranquility of the Suleymaniye Mosque to the hustle and bustle of the bazaars there is so much to see and do.

Looking across the city from the Galata Tower or one of the boats travelling up and down the Bosphorus the skyline is punctuated by minarets pointing towards the heavens. At prayer times, particulary dusk, when the call to prayer hailing from the minarets of different mosques blend together the effect is both moving and magical.

Everyone we met in the city were polite and friendly. Yes, a lot of the time we were being invited to buy carpets, leather jackets etc.. but often from those beginings a conversation would develop about, say, football or, as in 2003, we arrived the day after the Eurovision Song Contest, Turkey's victory and the UK coming last with "nil points"!

I would recommend Istanbul to anyone who enjoys city breaks, cultural and heritage sights and shopping. It is a truly great place to visit. I want to go back!

There are a lot of places to visit in Istanbul and one of the greatest pleasures is simply walking through the streets betwen those places, however, here is my Top Ten Must See Sights (in no particular order of preference
TOPKAPI PALACE - Serene gardens, exquisitly decorated pavilions and the intriguing Harem
THE BLUE MOSQUE - beautiful artistry of construction and decoration both inside and out.
HAGIA SOPHIA - a magnificent feat of architecture with a dome that seems to hang in the air above the interior space
BASILICA CISTERN (Yerebatan Sarayi) - Eerie, haunting, unusual, fascinating
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE - calm, peaceful and harmonious with fine masonary and decoration
GRAND BAZAAR - Bustling, energetic, noisy and great, great fun.
BOSPHORUS CRUISE - watch minarets, mosques, yalis and villages slide past
THE HIPPODROME - marvel at the obelisks and imagine the chariots racing around this oval infront of cheering crowds
ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM - wonderful statues and mosaics plus the
amazing Alexander Sarcophagus
MUSEUM OF TURKISH AND ISLAMIC ARTS - a fascinating history of the development of art techniques and styles including wonderful calligraphy plus kilms and carpets
KRIYE CAMII MUSEUM (ST. SAVIOUR IN CHORA) - amazing Byzantine mosaics, detailed and beautiful
GALATA TOWER - fantastic views over the Bosphorus, the city and beyond
YEDIKULE FORTRESS - scramble in and out of stone towers and along stone walkways and gaze across the Sea of Mamara

The city of Byzantion was founded, reputedly, in 667 BC by King Byzas and soon grew to be a successful city state. In 64BC it became part of the Roman Empire and was re-named Byzantium.

When Contsantine became ruler of the Roman Empire in AD 324 he moved the capital of the Empire to Byzantium which soon became known as Constantinople. Over the next thousand years Constantinople was the centre of the Byzantine Empire and prided itself on its art and culture. It was also during this time that some of the most remarkable architetural sites in the city were built including Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Hippodrome.

On 29th May 1453, after a 54 day seige, Sultan Mehmet II entered Constantinople. Tthe city was re-named Istanbul and the reign of the Ottoman Sultan's began. In 1479 Topkapi Palace was completed. During the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-66) the royal architect Sinan designed over 200 mosques and other buildings including Suleymaniye Mosque.

The Blue Mosque was finished in 1616. During the tulip period of Sultan Ahmet III (1703-30) western clothes and costume became fashionable for the first time. After the massacre of the janissaries (the Sultan's personal guard and elite fighting force) in 1826 reforms to government and society were instituted.

After the First World War the Ottoman Empire was in serious decline. The Turkish War of Independence began in 1920 and in 1922 the Sultanate was abolished. The following year Turkey was declared a secular republic and Mustafa Kemal Pasa ("Ataturk") became President.